Sponsorship Arrangements - Keele University
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Sponsor Arrangements

Background

All research in health and social care that involves NHS patients, their tissue or information, staff, equipment or other resources of the NHS must have a sponsor.  There are similar requirements for research involving social care practitioners, clients and resources, where the subject of the study falls under the remit of the Secretary of State for Health.

What is a sponsor?

A sponsor is an organisation or group of organisations that takes on the responsibility for confirming there are proper arrangements to initiate, manage and monitor and finance a study.

Who can act as sponsor?

Normally, the sponsor will be one of the organisations with lead responsibility for major aspects of the study.  It may be the Chief Investigator’s employing organisation, or the lead organisation providing health or social care, or the main funder (for commercial studies). 

What is KeeleUniversity’s policy on sponsor arrangements?

Keele University has registered with the Department of Health (2001) its willingness to act as sponsor under the Research Governance Framework.  Keele University is also prepared to act in the role of sponsor under the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004.

Sponsorship is determined on a case by case basis.  Keele University will only act as sponsor where a Keele University employed academic is directly responsible for initiating and designing the study, and where that academic is also part of the Senior Research Team (Chief/Principal Investigator).  Keele University will also sponsor a study where a clinical academic holds an honorary contract with Keele University, and holds a formal affiliation with a University Research Institute, and where the research funds for the specific project in question are contracted to and managed by Keele University.  Keele will also sponsor studies undertaken by its registered students as part of a taught course or research degree.

What is the sponsorship process at KeeleUniversity?

Full information regarding the procedure to follow to declare Keele University as sponsor or co-sponsor of a research project is available via the following link Procedure to declare KU as sponsor   

The “Keele University Sponsorship/Co-Sponsorship Agreement” which researchers need to complete and have signed off by the relevant personnel is available via the following link KU Sponsorship-Co-sponsorship Agreement.

On receipt of the all the signed documentation that forms the “Sponsorship/Co-Sponsorship Agreement” authorised personnel will sign and issue the standard Keele University confirmation of sponsorship letter. 

A copy of all completed/signed sponsorship documentation must be sent to Nicola Leighton, Research Governance Officer, Office of Research & Enterprise, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Keele University.

Further information

If you have any queries, would like further information sponsorship or for advice or assistance in completing the documentation, please contact:-

Nicola Leighton
Research Governance Officer
Research and Enterprise Services
Dorothy Hodgkin Building
Keele University
ST5 5BG
Telephone 01782 733306
E-mail : n.leighton@uso.keele.ac.uk

Flow chart outlining the sponsorship process at KeeleUniversity

Sponsorship Process Flowchart